Manchester Evening News and Liverpool Echo publisher Reach has announced that Terry Hornsby, currently group digital and innovation director, has been appointed chief product and technology officer.
The newly created role will lead a function which brings together the product function with the technology/IT and commercial product teams.
Hornsby will report directly into chief executive Piers North, and sit on the Executive Committee. North said: “This year we’ll be focused on the acceleration of our technology across all areas of the business. So I’m really pleased to have Terry, who has been instrumental in our progress to date and knows our tech infrastructure as well as our advertising strategy inside out, taking on this important leadership role.”
Hornsby added: “I’m delighted to take on this new role. It’s a great and timely opportunity to bring together and unify three talented functions, and support the business in its next big steps forward with technology and AI. We have a huge opportunity and I’m just excited to get started.”
Hornsby began his career in media in the early days of programmatic advertising, holding roles at various publishers including TalkSport and Condé Nast, spanning both commercial and product responsibilities, before joining Trinity Mirror/Reach in 2017. He founded Reach’s proprietary ad tech platform Mantis in 2019 and has led Reach’s digital operations and innovation for the commercial team since 2020.
Reach plc is the UK’s and Ireland’s largest commercial news publisher and home to over 120 trusted brands, from national titles like the Mirror, Express, Daily Record and Daily Star, to local brands like the Manchester Evening News and Liverpool Echo, as well as a number of US brands. Every month the publisher reaches 69% of the UK online population through its portfolio of print and online titles.
